Non-Planners What Do You Do Thread

[kjelsadek]

I don't think I will ever be a traditional planner although the planning education has served me very well. Currently I am working half time with the green homes office at the state housing finance agency and trying to get hired into the agency in a different department full time. Previously I was a restaurant manager for a decade McD's and Jack in the Box. I believe my future work will be more oriented towards public policy work-hopefully in housing.

[Linda_D]

I'm a computer programmer/analyst working for a small college in New York's Southern Tier, God's very own county (complete with bear, white tail deer, turkeys, coyotes and now, apparently, wild boar!). Before that, I worked as a programmer/analyst for NYS in Albany, and before that, I was a parochial school teacher in Buffalo.

[PrahaSMC]

Currently, an AmeriCorps VISTA "volunteer" until the spring, moonlighting as a roofer/painter on weekends. Likely to be slingin' drinks, flippin' burgers, or throwin' plywood around after my term of service is up.

Getting a narrow, pre-professional graduate degree... whoops

[Rygor]

I guess I'm technically not a "planner", though I was educated as one and I am AICP. I do economic development for a mid-sized municipality (pop. 40,000). I have done some planning related projects at times, too, but mostly I'm the "numbers guy" who does all the fiscal analyses, administers incentive programs, and keeps the TIF budgets in check.

[Chet]

I have 2 interviews tommorrow. One initially looked very good. One not so much.

#1) Financial Planner for a large mutual fund company. One of the largest in the nation, at a branch an easy commute away. Upsides: Very high potential for strong income "over time". They will work with you to develop your personal business plan and develop leads. They give you freedom to establish a personal plan, whether you are best at cold calls, hosting seminars, etc. This would give me time to settle some personal affairs from the Texas days this summer. Downsides: its a 1099 contract position. 100% commission based. They do not pay for finance or insurance exam training time or exam fees. On doing research, they have ALOT of negative publicity on www.indeed.com and www.scam.com (this it what bothers me most). It I can get this info in 10 minutes and its the 2nd and 3rd g00gle its after the firms, and wise investor would do the same!

#2) Health Insurance Rep. for a large firm. One of the largest of its type in its nation. Upsides: I'd have to relocate to Madison, WI. Also very freedom oriented in your personal marketing plan. It's full time with a solid beneifits package, and a real team approach. They will reimburse training assuming you pass the insurance exams, Downsides: Again (mostly) commission based. The product is mostly individual custom self-funded health plans. These may be directly affected negatively by the pending health care reform act.

Should be an interesting day. :/